Sustainable building workshop with University Students

Empowering Voices:
FSO Girls Join Workshop on Sustainable Construction

On January 20, 2023, a group of girls from the Forward Step Organization (FSO) had the incredible opportunity to participate in the workshop “Sustainable Construction in Sub-Saharan Africa”, held in Dar es Salaam. The event was a collaboration between the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the Technical University of Munich, Germany, bringing together graduate and doctoral students from across Sub-Saharan Africa in the fields of architecture, civil engineering, and urban planning.

The workshop focused on the rapid urbanization of cities across the continent and explored innovative solutions for sustainable development. An essential aspect of the discussion was creating inclusive cities—places where the needs and experiences of all community members, especially vulnerable groups, are taken into account.

The FSO girls brought a unique and powerful perspective to the table, sharing their experiences and highlighting the challenges faced by girls from rural areas. Their insights added depth to the conversation, emphasizing the importance of considering the voices of those most often overlooked in urban planning. They also had the opportunity to present their findings to the larger group, sparking meaningful discussions on how to ensure inclusivity in city design and development.

This experience was equally enriching for the FSO girls, who gained a behind-the-scenes look at the academic world and learned how professionals from different disciplines—architecture, engineering, and urban planning—work together to solve complex problems.

Workshops like this highlight the importance of empowering young voices in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future. At FSO, we’re proud to see the girls actively contributing to conversations that will shape tomorrow’s cities.